Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Expected Idol Winner Adam Lambert Won't Declare His 'Historic' Potential

Ooooh, TMZ, so slick with the questions! CONTINUED » Permalink | Post a comment | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: adam lambert, American Idol, TMZ, Video

What's This? ANOTHER Comedy We're Jazzed For?

There is nothing exactly "gay" about Community, the new fall show on NBC, a network that doesn't have a good track record with new fall shows. The show is about "adult education," aka community college, and looks like Parks & Recreation meets Slackers. Possibility for comedy, right? But why will we be watching it, you ask? [...]

Drunk With Pleasure

MORNING GOODS — Despite wearing skintight pants, a singlet, and a corset made of ribbons, Fabien just oozes masculinity. Exterface's photospread "L'ivresse Du Plaisir," which roughly translates, "Drunk with pleasure." As you will be. (Just excuse the reindeer antlers.) CONTINUED » CONTINUED » Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us Tagged: Models, Morning Goods, Photos, risque

Pink Tuesday Is On Hiatus

That’s right folks, Pink Tuesday has been put on hold. We appreciate all those who supported the night and it’s with a heavy heart that we announce that Pink Tuesday is no longer……for now. We thank Paul and the staff at Palomino’s and we understand the tough decision they had to make. While they are and always [...]

Take a Stand

We are the people of the Central Valley and we need our voices heard. Come join the Courage Campaign to let the Central Valley hear OUR voices. www.couragecampaign.com/equalityteams Our battle is long from over and we must come together to make a difference. For more information contact: Anthony Ash at 559-288-7537 or at ant_thon_e@yahoo.com [...]

Then I Saw Those Pics, Now I’m a Believer

Liveblogging Maine's House Session via "Turn Maine Blue"

(Related link below has all the audio/video feeds as well as 4 Twitters...)

Just got this lovely and extremely helpful from Gerald at "Turn Maine Blue":

I'll be hosting a live blog about L.D. 1020 today - I would be most appreciative if you would mention that to your readers, and honored if you would stop by to leave some comments.

Cheers

Gerald Weinand
Editor, Turn Maine Blue
Rockland

www.turnmaineblue.com

MANY THANKS to Gerald (who has a wonderful site, btw)...

I'm set up and about to tweet; a big tour bus of elderly couples just pulled up to the Statehouse a minute ago and the TV camera crews have long since been here.

HOUSE SESSION BEGINS AT 10 AM.

Fingers crossed that today is a great day for all Mainers!

Related: It's Official! Maine House To Vote On LD 1020 Tomorrow

DC Council meets today to vote on recognition of same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions

Lane Hudson of DC for Marriage has shared a primer on what to expect as the DC Council meets today and is scheduled to give final reading and pass legislation to allow the District to recognize valid marriages from other jurisdictions between same-sex couples. I wonder how many fundies and members of the professional "Christian" set will show up to protest?

Q: Does this set up a show down with Congress over the freedom to marry?
A: No, the DC Council is affirming that it will honor valid contract s between two people in another jurisdiction.  This is in keeping with Constitutional principle and over 100 years of tradition of the District recognizing such legal contracts.

While Congress has legislative review power over DC Council's actions, overturning a DC law requires proactive legislation passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President.  Today's vote does NOT trigger an automatic vote by Congress on marriage.

Q: Has Congress ever overturned a law passed by DC Council?
A: Not since the current legislative review process was instituted by the Supreme Court has Congress overturned DC law by an Act of Congress.  However, Congress has used the budgetary process to prevent implementation of acts by DC Council.  One example of this is Domestic Partnerships in DC.  Congress attached a rider to DC Appropriations for several years forbidding money from being spent to implement the Dome Domestic Partnership law.

Recognizing civil marriage contracts from other jurisdictions, however, does not cost the District money.  The passage of the law, for all intents and purposes, is an indication that the District of Columbia will recognize a valid civil marriage between a couple of the same gender at such time that the law demands a determination of marital status.  

More below the fold.

Q: Why set up a debate over the freedom to marry now?
A: The Council of the District of Columbia is not passing a marriage equality bill today.  It is simply voting to honor civil contracts legally executed in another jurisdiction.  That may prompt some to debate the issue of marriage equality.  Trends show us that those on the opposing side are shrinking in numbers.  

For the first time, an ABC News poll last week showed that a plurality of Americans support the right of gay people to have the freedom to marry.  Polling also shows us that younger generations support this freedom by large majorities, indicating where we can expect public opinion to be in the near future.

Q: What is the position of the President and Democrats in Congress on this issue?
A: Neither the President nor the Democratic Leadership has indicated a position on this specific action.  However, many are on the record both supporting Home Rule for the District of Columbia and as believing that the States should define marriage.  As Congress treats DC as a State for many purposes, this action would be allowable under their stated positions.

Q: What comes next?
A: After today, a 30 legislative day review period will begin.  At the end of those 30 legislative (not calendar) days, the District of Columbia can begin to honor valid marriage contracts from other jurisdictions, regardless of sexual orientation.

Jindal to speak at 'values voter summit'

Silly me.  I thought the "value voter summit" was long gone after the retirement of James Dobson and the death of Jerry Falwell, but apparently they are still chugging away.  At this year's "value voter summit", Gov. Bobby Jindal o f Louisiana will be committing political suicide speaking to the top GOP "luminaries".  The list is too funny.

BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Bobby Jindal is among more than two dozen conservatives scheduled to speak at a September "values voter summit" in Washington, the Family Research Council announced Monday.

The governor will join GOP luminaries such as talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck, and possible 2012 presidential candidates Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney at the Sept. 18-20 meeting that is one of the largest annual gatherings of the Christian conservatives who form torm the Republican Party's political base.

Jindal, considered by many a rising star in the GOP and a future presidential candidate, has said his only political plans are to run for re-election as governor in 2011. 

 

The obvious question that arises, why didn't Family Research Council president Tony Perkins invite his BFF Louisiana Senator David Vitter?

emcees announced for STRUT!

We’ve just confirmed that radio personality Tara Dublin of 94.7 and local Portland starlet Katie O’Grady will be emceeing this year’s STRUT! With talent like that on the stage (in addition to our FABU designers), this year’s show is going to be the best yet.  Coming up on Saturday, May 16th at Luxe Autohaus, STRUT is [...]

Choosing between love and country

Tim and Mike may very well be perfect for each other. They both like classical music and good films. They can talk for hours or just be together in silence. But they’ve got one little challenge: Mike lives in Oregon and Tim lives 4,600 miles away in Edinburgh, UK. They met online, and through the miracle of SKYPE, got to know one another really well. Tim says, "We hit it off early on, had an instant connection. We have plans to stay together in the long term." And so this week, Tim made the big trek to visit Mike in person here in Oregon. While in town, Tim stopped by Basic Rights Oregon’s Portland office to tell his story. Tim told us, "We’ve looked at our options to figure out how to live together permanently. Because we are a same-sex couple, we can’t just get married and then apply for immigration statund then apply for immigration status. I can apply for a permanent work visa. But this is a complicated and cumbersome process -- you have to have your job lined up and have the employer sponsor your application. Even if we were lucky, this would only get us a couple years together. Eventually, I would have to leave the country." He and Mike aren’t alone. Immigration Equality estimates that there are roughly 40,000 binational same-sex couples -- where one partner is a U.S. citizen and the other partner isn’t. They considered getting on Oregon domestic partnership. But their lawyer told them that this could create a problem with immigration in the long run. It’s crazy to think that our laws are set up to prevent them from committing to take responsibility for each other. Although 19 nations around the world allow their citizens to sponsor their same sex partners for immigration benefits, the United States does not recognize same-sex relationships for immigration purposes. And because of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, even same sex couples who have been legally married in the four US states that uphold the freedom to marry will not be able to immigrate. Every day caring and committed couples are forced to choose between the partner they love and the country they love. But there is a solution. The Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 1024 / S. 424) would provide a way for gay and lesbian couples to sponsor their partner for immigration. If you want to help make sure that Tim and Mike and other binational couples can build a life together, call Congress today and encourage your Representative and Senators to support HR 1024 / S 424. You can reach the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-2131.